Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.
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Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies, so I don't know what's real and what's not. Always confusing the thoughts in my head, so I can't trust myself anymore. I have died again. (Going Under)
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Storm rose into the air then, her eyes glazing over white, anger apparent in her features.
"By the Goddess no!" She shouted, sending a lightening bolt down upon Vertigo. It landed near her feet, causing the blonde woman to lose her balance.
But the unmistakable red on black eyes that had been lurking behind her in the shadows, caught her small frame by the waist, hoisting her back up.
"Now then, dat ain't no way ta treat a lady," Remy's smooth voice placated.
"Remy?" Kitty questioned unbelieving, as she stepped forward past Logan.
Gambit let go of the woman beside him, his pale face expressionless. His fists clenched to his sides, and as they did so the floor beneath the X-Men erupted in the glow of his kinetic energy.
"Now, dat name sounds familiar petit, mais, I prefer t'be called Gambit.
Jean created a telekinetic bubble then, protecting the feet of those that could not fly from being burned.
Gambit gave a cold hearted laugh, his eyes blazing red. He jogged down several of the steps then, stopping close to the bottom, his fists still closed. He wore a black body suit with combat boots, but no trench coat. The other Marauders made no move to attack.
A voice from the back of the room caught everyone's attention.
"Are you saying that you do not remember your name Remy?
Gambit looked to the side to see a bald man ride in on a wheelchair. "All I'm sayin' monsieur, is dat it sounds familiar." Remy unclenched his fists, releasing his kinetic hold on the team.
"Hey! Why'd ya let them go?!" Harpoon yelled to Remy's back.
Remy spun around then, glaring at the shorter man. "Because," Remy spat, "We ain't supposed ta be attackin' em'.
"And why is that Gambit?" Xavier questioned from his spot near the stairway.
A cool voice from above answered for Gambit. "I'm told that you and your team have been searching for me." The body belonging to the voice glided down the stairs, his body covered in blue shredded material, skin deathly pale, eyes glowing red. "So I thought I would search you out instead.
The team grew quiet, taking in what had to be the dreaded Mr. Sinister. His blood red lips quirked into a grin, baring his dagger like teeth. As he reached a spot behind Gambit, he placed a hand on Remy's shoulder.
"I'm also here to introduce my newest member, Gambit." Still no one spoke. "Well, I see you are all speechless. Good.
"I know dese people Essex," Remy suddenly whispered, his eyes grave.
With a snap of his fingers, a portal opened and Essex ordered his men to jump through. The X-Men awaited an order from Xavier to follow, but it never came.
Essex released his hold on Remy. "Of course you do Gambit. These are the alleged X-Men. The people who left you to die." With one last anguished look around him, Remy jumped through the portal without another word, his red eyes cutting through every member present.
Once he was gone, Essex turned back to Xavier.
"What kind of man are you?" Xavier breathed in question.
"The kind that sees potential." Essex stated, moving to the portal, his cape dangling about him. As an afterthought Essex added. "I didn't clone him, if that's what you think. The boy was not completely dead, like you thought.
The portal closed up instantly after Essex stepped through. Logan had charged it nonetheless, his claws extended. Growling he turned to face Xavier.
"What do ya make o'that Chuck?
The team moved closer to hear Xavier's words.
"Essex was just here to show off. I believe he will be back. And we will be prepared. We will do everything in our power to bring Remy back home to us.
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You hold the answers deep within your own mind. Consciously, you've forgotten it. That's the way the human mind works. Whenever something is too unpleasant, too shameful for us to entertain, we reject it. We erase it from our memories. But the answer is always there. ("Wash It All Away")
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Rogue was working a late afternoon shift with her co-worker Lindsey, scanning Vogue magazine behind the counter. Traffic was slow, and there were only two customers milling about the store.
Lindsey was helping someone into a fitting room when Rogue heard the whoosh of the door open. Glancing up quickly, Rogue sucked in her breath, her hands gripping the sides of the counter. She blinked once, then twice.
He was dressed in shapely jeans and dark tee, his hair falling in wisps around his well sculpted face. He looked like Remy, and when his eyes met her own, Rogue backed up against the wall. The figure smiled then moved to the men's section of the store.
Rogue felt her forehead, worried she was coming down with a fever. She couldn't be seeing Remy again, she had locked him away. She needed fresh air.
"Hey Lindsey! Ah'm going out for a quick break." Rogue yelled across the store, her eyes never leaving the roaming figure through the dark shades of her sunglasses. Lindsey shrugged and went back to stocking the racks.
As Rogue pushed through the back exit she began to take deep breathes, until a strong pair of arms circled her throat, throwing her back into a nearby wall. Before she could react the attacker had her pinned tightly to the wall, her arm bent back, a glowing blade attached to her throat. She knew that with her super strength she could easily push him away. But she didn't want to because despite the fact that he was attacking her, the warmth of his body sent shivers down her spine.
"Y'be de femme dat stole half my mind hahn?" His emotionless expression suddenly melted away into a devilish grin. "Y'be tres belle chere." He whispered, leaning in closer, his voice strained with venom.
"Remy?" She managed to choke out.
She felt his hold on the blade by her chin loosen at the name. His eyes suddenly held what looked like remorse. "Don' know chere, seems y'stole dat part away from me too.
"Is this real Remy? Are ya really standing here?" Gambit realized then that she was not afraid of the blade to her neck, but rather she was afraid of him. She looked at him as if he were a ghost.
He pressed the blade into her neck. "Does dis blade feel real chere?
He felt her swallow against the blade. "How? You're supposed ta be dead.
Remy snorted. "I'm told I was brought back ta life. But you chere," As he emphasized this he pressed harder to her, making it difficult for her to breathe. "you stole what made my life worth livin', ya took my memories.
Suddenly Remy felt her fingers clasp between the hand he was using to hold her back. He looked back at her, confusion apparent in his eyes. Lifting the knife up to her face and removing the charge from it, he nudged her glasses up off her face.
What lay beneath them startled Remy, as he leapt away from her, dropping the blade to the ground.
"Y'have my eyes chere.
She simply nodded.
Remy ran his hands through his hair, dropping his eyes to the ground. Rogue reached a hand out in sympathy.
"Let meh help ya sugah.
Remy slapped her hand away inches from his face, raising his eyes back up to meet her own. But the harshness his gaze held disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
He reached forward then, grabbing hold of one of her white strands. "I recognize dis.
Rogue felt tears welling in her eyes. "Yeah?
"Oui.
Just then the back door opened, startling the two. Rogue immediately kicked aside the blade, hiding it from Lindsey's view as she peeked her head out the door.
"Oh. Didn't realize ya had company." Lindsey glanced Remy over, taking in his eyes. "Is he your brother or something Natalie?
Rogue just nodded. "Or something." Getting the point, Lindsey began to shut the door. "Just come back in soon, k' Nat?
Rogue smiled lightly. "Sure thing Lindsey.
Remy remained quiet during their entire encounter, his body staying stalk still. For several moments the two simply stared at one another. But Rogue could not take it any longer, and she threw herself into Remy's arms.
Surprised, Remy lay his hands on her back. But when Rogue tightened their embrace, Remy suddenly felt comfortable, as if he had hugged her a million times before. As his hands shoved into her curls, Remy inhaled her scent, unsure of the closeness between them.
"Have I hugged y'like dis before Natalie?
Rogue's made up name sounded perfect on Remy's tongue, and for the first time she enjoyed hearing it. "Yeah sugah, ya have.
Remy pushed her away then, backing up a step.
"When do y'get off work chere?" Remy asked, his tone barren of emotion.
"At 6:00.
Remy began to back up down the wooden stairs that lead to the beach, his hand gliding down the railing.
"I'll see y'den chere.
Rogue watched his form disappear into the distance, as she wrapped her arms around herself. She was very tempted to follow him but instead she turned to her right, and stepped back into the store, trusting his word that he would be back.
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Fallen angels at my feet. Whispered voices in my ear. Death before my eyes. Lying next to me I fear. Forsaking all I've fallen for I rise to meet the end. (Whisper)
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The X-Men had no time to think about the reappearance of the Marauders and the resurrection of Remy just four days ago. Because in that short time since a new evil had stolen their attention away.
Three years ago, the X-Men had dealt with a man named Mesmero, who had brainwashed several of the team members into stealing specific artifacts for him. A few months after that occurrence he had stolen another possession from a museum in Europe. But in the last several years he had seemingly disappeared.
Now, Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Jean and Psylocke stood in the center of Warren Worthington's trashed living room, concern for their past teammate welling within them.
"Yah, Mesmero was here alright. But there's no telling if he took Angel by force, or if Warren went willingly." Logan stated. The team was worried the messy state of the apartment had in fact been caused by Warren's depressed state, rather than a fight with Mesmero, who used his mind rather than physical force to capture his target.
"Warren kept a small museum just down the hall," Betsy whispered, pointing to her left. She had taken to wearing a full ninja suit on missions, one that came complete with a mask to cover all but her eyes. A long katana sword rested against her back.
"Let's check it out," Scott ordered, already heading down the hall, Jean Grey right on his heels.
"Do you sense or smell any other presence in the apartment Logan?" Storm questioned as she glided beside him.
Wolverine glanced at her appreciatively. "Not a trace darlin'.
As the team entered the make shift museum it became apparent that Warren had an interest in ancient artifacts. Carved out stone, Petri glyph slabs, and old pottery littered the room on pedestals, covered with glass tops.
Weaving in and out of the various artifacts, one pedestal drew attention to the team. Glass shards littered the ground, the pedestal above it empty.
Before the team could question what had once rested on the pedestal, their communicators began to buzz to life with Xavier's voice.
"X-Men, return to the mansion immediately. We are far too late.
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Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming. Cannot cease for the fear of silent nights. Oh how I long for the deep sleep dreaming. (Imaginary)
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Remy stepped back through the portal, re-entering Sinister's Seattle lab. Essex had his back to Remy, and did not turn to face him upon hearing the portal open.
Gambit closed the distance between him and Essex in several long, quiet strides. In a firm voice, Remy began to speak. "I found her Essex.
Essex narrowed his eyes, looking up from the microscope he was bent over. The boy held no fear for Essex, which both pleased and disturbed him.
"Did you speak with her?" Essex questioned, turning his attention to Remy's burning eyes.
"Oui.
Essex smiled; a grin that would startle any other man, his sharp teeth gleaming in the light. Remy's face did not betray his emotions as he awaited Essex's next order.
"Return to California Gambit. Study this woman who stole your memories. Report back to me in several weeks." Essex moved his attention back to the microscope, emphasizing that he was finished.
But Gambit simply stood there unmoving. Annoyed, Sinister glanced up once more.
"What is it Gambit?
"Why do I have t'watch her? I want my memories back Essex!" Remy's voice raised only slightly at his last statement, and his hands remained clasped to his sides. But his eyes glowed brighter with his rage.
Essex stayed calm. "I realize that you want your life back Gambit, but as you will soon find, this woman was exactly that not too long ago.
"Exactly what?" Remy asked.
"She was your life." The words rolled off Essex's tongue in bitter delight, teasing Remy.
The light in Remy's eyes distinguished, and he saw Essex's mouth curl into another grin. A buzzing sound hit Remy's ears as the portal reopened. Remy stared in silence at Essex one more time before returning to the portal without another word.
After it had closed, Essex squinted his red eye back into the microscope lens.
"And once again things are going exactly as planned.